Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP

Recognized as Delaware’s premier law firm, Morris Nichols handles bet-the company, high-stakes matters in the four key areas of corporate litigation, commercial and corporate counselling, bankruptcy and restructuring, and intellectual property litigation. The firm is regularly involved as lead counsel or co-counsel in matters of national and international significance, as well as those affecting its immediate community.

Main areas of practice

Alternative Entity Counseling. The lawyers in our alternative entity counseling practice specialize in Delaware law governing limited liability companies, partnerships, limited partnerships, statutory trusts and other entities that are not organized as corporations.  Our lawyers have been in the forefront of drafting and updating Delaware’s statutes governing the formation and operation of alternative entities – considered to be the most advanced in the nation..

Bankruptcy & Restructuring. Morris Nichols has one of the leading business reorganization and restructuring practices in the nation. At the center of many of the most important bankruptcy matters in Delaware and the United States, we offer clients unmatched guidance on how to navigate the Delaware courts, as well as a multidisciplinary approach steeped in a deep understanding of Delaware business and bankruptcy law – one that leverages the capabilities of our corporate litigation, intellectual property, real estate, and corporate and commercial counseling practices to provide insights on interrelated legal and business issues.

Commercial Transactions. Morris Nichols provides cutting edge transactional counsel to national, international and local clients. Our lawyers excel at complex, innovative transactions — matters that include mergers, asset acquisitions and sales; joint ventures; financing and leasing; bankruptcy-related deals; as well as the structuring of commercial contracts of every kind.

Corporate & Commercial Litigation. Morris Nichols lawyers have litigated many of the landmark cases that established the principles of Delaware corporate law and defined the fiduciary duties governing boards of directors of many major corporations in the United States. From the seminal Revlon case to the more recent landmark decision in MFW, we represent many of the world’s largest companies in litigation of national significance.

We advocate on behalf of corporations, directors, substantial stockholders, partnerships, limited and general partners, and limited liability companies in lawsuits involving challenges to mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions; takeover battles and proxy contests; busted deals; as well as class and derivative actions. We also represent special committees of independent directors in connection with reviewing conflict transactions and with the investigation of potential and pending derivative claims. In addition, we routinely handle matters involving complex valuations of Delaware corporations and alternative entities, as well as statutory proceedings before the Delaware Court of Chancery such claims for inspection of books and records; claims by directors for advancement and indemnification of their legal fees; and claims to compel an annual stockholders’ meetings.

Corporate Counseling. Morris Nichols has for decades, and continues today, to play an important role in the development and evolution of Delaware corporate law. Our lawyers offer unparalleled legal advice to publicly traded and privately held corporations and their boards of directors and officers. We also advise international law firms, in-house counsel, and private equity and venture capital investors.

Our practice focuses on issues of corporate governance and those that are more transactional in nature, including advice concerning mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, financings and other complex transactions. Our work ranges from suggesting simple solutions based on our Delaware experience to providing formal legal opinions to designing and structuring complex transactions for businesses and investors throughout the world. We also regularly serve as special counsel to boards of directors and board committees, particularly in situations involving potential conflicts of interest.

Intellectual Property Litigation. Morris Nichols has one of the leading Intellectual Property Litigation practices in the United States. Best known for our market leading experience in patent litigation, we also represent clients in complex disputes involving trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, and antitrust. We have successfully litigated cases involving products and services in all areas of technology and for clients across a broad range of industries.

Trusts & Estates/Private Client. Morris Nichols is nationally known for the strength of its Trusts & Estates/Private Client practice. We advise a broad range of clients in connection with trusts, estate planning and administration, and fiduciary litigation. We also have a market leading practice advising banks and trust companies in the highly specialized area of Delaware trust law. Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) has ranked our practice in Band 1 among Delaware private wealth law firms, with sources touting the group’s reputation as “one of the leading firms in Delaware,” and the “first point of reference” on Delaware trust law.

Unclaimed Property. Morris Nichols has played an integral role in shaping Delaware’s unclaimed property law – from helping draft the state’s statutes and regulations, to its relevant audit and voluntary disclosure procedures.

Global Connection

Clients often turn to Morris Nichols with matters of international significance. We are the Delaware representative of TerraLex, a global network of 130 independent law firms and 22,000 attorneys in more than 120 countries.